Combination spade or shovel and sifter

ABSTRACT

A dual-purpose garden tool comprising a combination spade and screen or sifter device for use in tilling the soil, gardening, and for other similar purposes where aggregate materials are to be picked up and sifted so as to separate the larger particles from the small sized, granular or powdery substance. The device comprises essentially a spade or shovel blade of pointed configuration, which is carried at one end of a handle having at its other end a usual hand grip. Immediately above and adjacent the shovel blade there is detachably mounted a divided sieve or sifter having appreciable width, the two portions thereof being characterized by a shallow, dished configuration. The sifter or screen is made to be easily removable, and thus can be replaced by other screens having either larger or smaller perforations whereby either a coarse or else a fine sifting can be readily accomplished. A footpiece or stirrup member is provided on the handle adjacent the sifter and above the same, to enable the user to apply foot pressure for the purpose of inserting the shovel blade in the earth.

finite @fiates Ball et a1.

[ Dec.3,1974

Brodslty, 153 Birch Rd., Fairfield, Conn. 06430 22 Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 238,035

[52] U.S. Cl. 209/419, 294/49, 294/51 [51] Int. Cl B07b l/02 [58] Field of Search 209/417-419;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 93,336 8/1869 Palmer 209/419 448,393 3/1891 Wells 209/419 X 493,110 3/1893 Orthwein 294/60 678,373 7/1901 Blaser 294/60 X 880,527 3/1908 l-lepp 209/419 X 2,396,089 3/1946 Cross 209/419 X 2,545,226 3/1951 Claude 209/419 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 78,519 1/1919 Switzerland 209/418 870,464 6/1961 Great Britain... 209/418 1,087,389 8/1960 Germany 294/54 1,215,811 11/1959 France 294/59 1,466,714 12/1966 France 294/49 Primary ExaminerRobert Halper Attorney, Agent, or FirmI-1. Gibner Lehmann; K. Gibner Lehmann 5 7 ABSTRACT A dual-purpose garden tool comprising a combination spade and screen or sifter device for use in tilling the soil, gardening, and for other similar purposes where aggregate materials are to be picked up and sifted so as to separate the larger particles from the small sized, granular or powdery substance. The device comprises essentially a spade or shovel blade of pointed configuration, which is carried at one end of a handle having at its other end a usual hand grip. Immediately above and adjacent the shovel blade there is detachably mounted a divided sieve or sifter having appreciable width, the two portions thereof being characterized by a shallow, dished configuration. The sifter or screen is made to be easily removable, and thus can be replaced by other screens having either larger or smaller perforations whereby either a coarse or else a fine sifting can be readily accomplished. A footpiece or stirrup member is provided on the handle adjacent the sifter and above the same, to enable the user to apply foot pressure for the purpose of inserting the shovel blade in the earth.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures COMBINATION SPADE OR SHOVEL AND SIFTER BACKGRQUND This invention relates to dual-purpose garden tools intended for working the earth, such as shovels, spades and the like, and more particularly to a combination spade or shovel and sifter device having both elements carried on the same handle member. In the past various types of scoops, coal and ash sifters, sifting shovels and the like have been proposed and produced. Most of these have been directed for use with coal furnaces, as for the purpose of removing the ashes and sifting the same so as to separate the unburned particles of coal from the ashes. Such combination shovel-sifters, however, have not been suitable for gardening use since they were intended to work with relatively light, loosely packed materials, such as burned cinders and ashes. Other utensils in the form of sifting scoops have been proposed, having relatively short handles and being in tended for handling finely powdered substances such as wheat flour, corn flour, corn mail and the like. In each instance, however, the device was constructed particularly to carry out its own special and in no case was it suitable for gardening use where soil was to be spaded up and thereafter sifted to remove the stones, grass and other large particles therefrom.

SUMMARY The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior combination scoop or shovel and sifter devices are obviated by the present invention, which has for its main object the provision of a novel and improved dualpurpose utensil comprising a combined garden shovel and soil sifter which is especially suited to loosen and spade up soil, and thereafter to remove the stones and other large particles therefrom in the most efficient and facile manner, all with the least possible exertion. A further and related object of the invention is to provide an improved combination spade and sifter as above characterized, which is especially simple in its construction and economical to fabricate. An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved combination spade and sifter as above characterized, wherein the sifter element can be easily and quickly removed and replaced by other elements hav ing either coarser or finer screens, thereby to suit the utensil to a particular gardening job or situation.

The above objects are accomplished by a combination utensil comprising a spade or shovel blade of pointed configuration and relatively small area, carried at one end of a long handle for manipulating the blade, the other end of the handle having a usual type of hand grip. Disposed immediately above or behind the shovel blade is a sifter element comprising two joined halves, each half being characterized by a shallow, dished configuration, the said halves together constituting a relat ively wide sifter that is closely juxtaposed to the shovel blade. The sifter element is demountably secured in place, and can be easily removed and replaced by other like sifter elements having either coarser or finer screens. The shovel blade is disposed at the slight angle with respect to both the sifter and the long handle on which it is mounted. Above and adjacent the sifter element is a stirrup or foot-rest member adapted for engagement by a users foot to enable force to be applied to the blade for the purpose of inserting it in the ground, this being possible without introducing stresses in the sifter which could damage or deform it. Thus, the user, in operating the utensil, merely inserts the blade in the ground by applying foot pressure to the stirrup, then loosens and removes a clump of soil in the usual manner, and thereafter by a simple tossing movement, transfers the clump from the blade onto the surface of the sifter. Then the user employs a shaking motion, either laterally or axially or both, to effect a sifting of the loosened soil in the sifter whereby the powdered or granular material passes through and drops whereas the larger particles such as the stones and grass clumps remain on top. The user then deposits the stones either in a receptacle or on a pile, and thus proceeds to not only spade up the garden but remove the objectionable stones, all with the use of but a single utensil and in a quick and effective manner.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a combination spade or shovel and sifter device for gardening use, as provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the combination spade and sifter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the combination sifter and spade, showing the sifter element removed from the remainder of the utensil for replacement purposes. In this figure there is also illustrated a stanchion or post on which the utensil can be temporarily supported during such replacement or for other purposes, and

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

As shown,-the improved combination garden utensil comprises essentially a relatively small, pointed spade or shovel blade 10 which is carried on a shaft 12, both said parts being preferably constituted of sturdy metal such as stainless steel,- cold-rolled or sheet metal, steel tubing and the like. The shaft 12 has a ferrule or generally 14 in which there is received one end of a wooden handle 16 the other end of which carries the usual type of handgrip 18; The shaft and the wooden handle 16, constituting continuations of each other, are hereinafter also generally referred to by the single term handie.

The blade 10 preferably is quite pointed, having a relatively sharp tip 20 and being generally of triangular outline with a slightly dished configuration or shape whereby the side edge portions 22 are raised or at a different level with respect to the center portion 24 when considering FIG. 3. The blade 10 is symmetrical about the axis of the handle 12, 16, as clearly seen in FIG. 1.

Theshaft 12 has a mounting end portion 26 which is arranged to support the blade 10 at a slight angle, as illustrated in the figures. Above the shovel blade 10, in accordance with the present invention, the shaft 12 is provided with a pair of upstanding mounting screws 28 adapted to pass through an expansive or large area screen or sieve member 30 and also through a clamping strip 32 which latter has openings 34 for this purpose. Wing nuts 36 are threaded on the mounting screws 28 and clamp the sieve element 30 securely against the shaft 12 between the latter and the clamping strip 32. The screws 28, wing nuts 36 and clamping strip 32 constitute a manually operable means for demountably attaching the sifter means 3% to the handle l2, 16.

The screen element 30 is sturdily constructed, having a relatively thick, oval rim 38 of heavy metal wire, metal rod or the like, to which a metal screen element 40 is secured as by welding or brazing. The screen element 40, constituting a sifter means, comprises two half portions disposed respectively on opposite sides of the shaft 12, and respectively adjacent the two portions of the blade which lie on opposite sides of the axis of the handle 12, 16. The screen member 30 can be advantageously finished by dipping it in a plastic or other paint-like coating substance whereby it will be resistant to rusting, corrosion or the like. The two half portions of the screen 30 have generally a substantially planar configuration, the plane of one of said halves making a slight angle with respect to the plane of the other half as seen in FIG. 4, which also shows the slightly dished configurations of the sifter halves.

As provided by the present invention, the shaft 12 has a stirrup member 42 disposed above the screen element 30 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The stirrup element 42 is advantageously constituted of a short length of strong metal tubing, which is welded to the shaft 12 and is reinforced by a triangular metal brace 44 also welded to the shaft and to the stirrup 42.

Referring to FIG. 4 it will be seen that the screen element 30 is a continuous mesh, and comprises two halves 46, 48 which are somewhat wing-like in their configuration. The screen 40 is only slightly dished where it constitutes parts of the halves 46, 48, and is also provided with an upwardly offset portion 50 adapted to extend around three sides of the shaft 12 as seen in FIG. 4. The rim 38 of the sieve element also has upwardly displaced central portions 52 which extend around the three sides of the shaft 12 to enable the latter to be nested in the screen element 30 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The clamping strip 32 engages the upwardly offset portions 52 of the rim 38 to securely clamp the sieve element to the shaft 12.

In use, the operator applies the blade 10 to the soil and, using foot pressure on the stirrup 42, forces the blade into the ground. Then the soil is loosened by usual angular movements of the utensil, and the loosened clumps of earth are lifted up. By a slight tossing movement the earth clumps are transferred to the screen element 30. The user then applies a shaking motion to sift the soil thus transferred, enabling the small loose granules to pass through the screen and retaining the larger particles such as stones, clumps of grass and the like on the screen. After the sifting is completed, the user disposes of the stones by throwing them on a pile or into a receptacle. Referring to FIG. 3, the stirrup can be placed on a stanchion or rod 54 set in the ground, if it is desired to support the utensil horizontally, as for example while it is being shaken to effect the sifting.

it will now be seen from the foregoing that we have provided a novel and improved combination garden utensil in the form of a spade and sifter carried both on a single operating handle, whereby a gardener can easily and quickly loosen soil and sift out the stones and other large particles without resorting to separate tools. The operation of loosening and sifting the soil can be carried out with a minimum of effort due to the relatively small size of the blade 10, and due to the convenient location and shape of the sifter 30 located adjacent the blade, all in conjunction with the provision of the stirrup member 42 by which the blade can be readily inserted in garden soil. The utensil is seen to be especially simple in its construction and economical to manufacture, and various types of screens having different-size openings can be utilized to sift out either large or small stones.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A dual-purpose garden tool commprising, in combination:

a. an imperforate shovel blade,

b. an elongate handle to one end of which the shovel blade is attached, c. a hand grip secured to the other end of the handle,

d. expansive, substantially planar sifter means separate from said blade and attached to the handle adjacent and above said blade, and

e. a stirrup carried by the handle adjacent that portion of the sifter means whichis remote from the shovel blade, said stirrup projecting from the handle in a direction away from the plane defined by the sifter means,

f. said sifter means comprising two halves symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the handle,

g. each of said halves having a substantially planar configuration, I

h. the plane of one of said halves making a slight angle with respect to the plane of the other half.

2. A dual-purpose garden tool as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the halves of the sifter means have a slightly dished configuration. 3. A dual-purpose garden tool as in claim 2, wherein:

a. the sifter means has a laterally offset central portion in which the handle is nested. 4. A dual-purpose garden tool as in claim 3, wherein:

l'lm. 

1. A dual-purpose garden tool commprising, in combination: a. an imperforate shovel blade, b. an elongate handle to one end of which the shovel blade is attached, c. a hand grip secured to the other end of the handle, d. expansive, substantially planar sifter means separate from said blade and attached to the handle adjacent and above said blade, and e. a stirrup carried by the handle adjacent that portion of the sifter means which is remote from the shovel blade, said stirrup projecting from the handle in a direction away from the plane defined by the sifter means, f. said sifter means comprising two halves symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the handle, g. each of said halves having a substantially planar configuration, h. the plane of one of said halves making a slight angle with respect to the plane of the other half.
 2. A dual-purpose garden tool as in claim 1, wherein: a. the halves of the sifter means have a slightly dished configuration.
 3. A dual-purpose garden tool as in claim 2, wherein: a. the sifter means has a laterally offset central portion in which the handle is nested.
 4. A dual-purpose garden tool as in claim 3, wherein: a. the sifter means comprises a screen element and a rigid supporting rim to which the screen element is attached, b. said rim having laterally offset central portions in which the handle is nested.
 5. A dual-purpose garden tool as in claim 4 and further including: a. manually operable means for demountably attaching the sifter means to the handle to provide for easy and quick removal and replacement, b. said demountable attaching means including a clamp strip overlying the offset portions of said rim. 